Claude Frank

Adjudicator: 1989, 2008

Biography

Born in Nuremberg, pianist Claude Frank left Nazi Germany in 1937 and eventually settled in America. He studied piano with Artur Schnabel in New York City, and had his recital debut at Town Hall in 1947. He had his New York Philharmonic debut under conductor Leonard Bernstein in 1959. He has appeared with most of the world’s major orchestras, including the Boston, Chicago, National, and Buenos Aires Symphonies, the New York and Berlin Philharmonics, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam.
Frank has participated in major music festivals all over the world: in the Americas, in Europe, in Africa and in Asia. His continual involvement with the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center in New York is legendary, and in the summer of 2005 he served as a distinguished faculty member at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. A Beethoven specialist, Mr. Frank has always been admired as a superb chamber musician and has played with various string quartets, the Juilliard and Guarneri Quartets included. He performed regularly with his late wife, pianist Lillian Kallir, in duo-piano concerts, and with his daughter, violinist Pamela Frank. A milestone in his career was RCA’s release of his recordings of the 32 Beethoven piano sonatas and his worldwide performances of the cycle.

Mr. Frank currently serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and the Yale School of Music in New Haven, Connecticut. His master classes are highly anticipated and sought-after events, and he has participated as a juror at various piano competitions, including past Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competitions.

The Arthur Rubinstein International Music Society, founded by J.J. Bistritzky, N.R.O.